Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-25
CARNOT'S GRANDFATnER.
NapoIeon's Appreciation ana what
Fiebuhr said OF Him.

tLOndOn Daily telegraph
Seldom are the whirligigs OF time and
the strange revenges which they bring
more forcibly or more curiousiy Illus
trated than 10 the records OF historic
houses; and of the existing palaces OF
the French capital not one has under
gone so many interesting yicissitudcs rs
that Elysee. where at the end OF June,
1915, La7are Nicolas Marguerite
Carnot conyersed for the last time
with his imperial master. From 1909 to
1914 the inlexible Republican had held
studiously aloof from the imperial
rcgimC. He would have absolutely
nothing to do with Napoleon so long rs
the Cesar was prosperous and powerful.
He had voted against the foundation of
the Legion of Honor, he had voted
against the consulate for life, and he was
the only member of the Tribunate who
dared to raise his voice against the es-
tablishmout OF the empire. Yet so
highly did Napoleon appreciate the
talents and the virtues OF tine soldier,
statesman, and man of science, who had
served the Convention and the Directory
so well, that he sent him this pithy
but comprehensive message " Monsieur
Cannot, anything You like, rs you ike,
and when you like" Carnot wanted
and would accept nothing. When.
however, political bankruptcy had over
taken Napoleon in 1914, AMI when bis
marshols and his courtiers were desert
ing him m mOSsc Carnot reappeared to
offer, as he put it, scxagenaran
arm " to the defeated and ruined con-
queror. His services were gladly ac-
cepted, and he was instructed to place
tue citadel of Antwerp IN state OF
defence, and il was not until he had
accomplished his task that 1t was
discovered that the man who had "or-
gained victory" for the Republican ar
mics. whose name was closely associated
with the creation of the Polytechnic
School, the Institute, the Ecole Nor
male, aud the Bureau Of Longitudes,
held no higher grade than that Of ma
Tor of engineers. lie had bestowed the
very highest ranks in the military SER
vice OF his country, but he had
forgotten his own claims, and it
was only by seniority that he had
risento thepostOi a"Chef de Battalion.
Perhaps the finest tribute ever rendered
10 his character was that paid by the
iiIustrious historian Niebuhr. Carnot,".
he said, lis in many respects the greatest
man of this century his virtues are OF
an exquisite nature. My political ideas
differ from his, and my love for him
might seem an anomaly but this love
exists, and if there remained TO me in the
world only single crust of bread
should be proud to share it with Carnot.
Prescribed by the BourbOns because
he had voted for the death of Louis XVI,
he died in exile at Magdeburg; but lit
tie could he have deemed in his last and
sorrow.strickcn days that his grandson
would, ere three generations had eX-
pircd. be elected Chief Magistrate OF
republic the puiAslnce and durability OF
which had been the dream OF his long
and useful life. As little could he
have reckoned that the Elysce, where
for the last time he had seen
and conferred with Napoleon, would
be the mansion assigned as an
official residence to his descend
ant. when, however, the cnIOnl-
Gle Of this cbameleon-like structure is
considered, establishment at its changes
OF occupants is overcome by conviction
that there is scarcely anything III the
way Of mutability that is not possible in
that ediiice of many masters. Early in
the eighteenth century the Regent Or
leans begged from the baby Louis Ky.
vast tract OF land aoutting on the
Champs Elysees, and this pro-
perty he presented to his friend
Henri de In Tour d'Auvergne, Count Of
Eyrcux, vino proceeded to build on the
site that winch WIS called at the period
"a delicious residence so delicious,
indeed. was the mansion found to be that
it Was coyoted by Madame dc Pompa-
dour. who inhabited 1t for some years,
Here she took lessons in painting and
engraving from the famous Boucher,
and in her studio at the Elysee she ex-
ecuted number of etchings in copper,
almost as delicious as the house sur
rounded by smiling gardens in which she
1ualt